JACKSON, Tenn. — March 22, 2016 — Donald Rumsfeld, secretary of defense under President Gerald R. Ford and President George W. Bush, will be the keynote speaker for Union University鈥檚 19th annual Scholarship Banquet Oct. 4 at the Carl Perkins Civic Center in Jackson.
Following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Rumsfeld, a former navy pilot, directed the Department of Defense鈥檚 efforts in the global war on terror. His public service 海角乱伦社区 also includes four terms in the U.S. House of Representatives and positions as Ford鈥檚 chief of staff, U.S. ambassador to NATO, assistant and counselor to President Richard Nixon and presidential envoy to the Middle East under President Ronald Reagan.
In recognition of his public service, Rumsfeld has been awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Ronald Reagan Freedom Award.
鈥淒onald Rumsfeld鈥檚 service to our country in cabinet-level positions during three presidential administrations makes him a unique observer of leadership and government,鈥� Union President Samuel W. 鈥淒ub鈥� Oliver said. 鈥淲e look forward to another great Scholarship Banquet at Union where we hear engaging speakers who have served in the highest levels of public service and whose ideas and leadership have shaped our nation and the world.鈥�
In addition to his work in government, Rumsfeld has been CEO of two Fortune 500 companies. He led the financial turnaround of the pharmaceutical company G.D. Searle & Co, where he was named 鈥淥utstanding Chief Executive Officer in the Pharmaceutical Industry鈥� by The Wall Street Transcript.
In his memoir, 鈥淜nown and Unknown,鈥� Rumsfeld writes about his childhood and long political 海角乱伦社区, including anecdotes about everyone from Elvis Presley to his close friend and ally Dick Cheney. In his newest book, 鈥淩umsfeld鈥檚 Rules,鈥� Rumsfeld offers a candid look at success, failure, crises and moving up in business and government.
The annual Scholarship Banquet has become one of the premier events in West Tennessee each year and is Union鈥檚 primary fundraising event for its student scholarship fund. Leading businesses and individuals from across West Tennessee have sponsored the event over the years to bring outstanding speakers to the Jackson area.
Previous speakers have included Tony Blair, George H.W. Bush, Margaret Thatcher, Condoleezza Rice, Mikhail Gorbachev, Laura Bush, Mike Huckabee, Rudolph Giuliani, Colin Powell and Ben Carson, among others.
Dinner will begin at 6:30 p.m. and the program will start at 7:30 p.m. Sponsorship opportunities for the event are available at all levels. For ticket information, including table sponsorships and individual balcony seating, contact Union鈥檚 Office of Institutional Advancement at (731) 661-5050 or visit .